A group of mariachis in a Plaza Garibaldi (Mexico City) on February 14. Sanne Derks (Getty Images)
After six weeks in yellow, Mexico City will return this Monday, March 7, to the green epidemiological traffic light, as announced this Friday by the Government of the capital.
The opening of all activities without restrictions has been announced by the head of government, Claudia Sheinbaum, in the midst of a decline in covid-19 infections, after the fourth wave of the pandemic.
“We are going to ask the Ministry of Public Education, all the universities, everything that has to do with the educational sector, to return to classes in a normal way.
Similarly, all economic activities, offices, it is also a call to all public and private institutions to return, of course, each one with its time.
You always have to take care of yourself, but the economic reactivation of the city is very important”,
highlighted at a press conference.
Mexico accumulates 5.5 million cases and more than 319,00 deaths from the disease.
Sheinbaum has indicated that the decision was made due to the reduction in infections and hospitalizations and the advancement of vaccination against covid-19.
"We are the first entity in the Republic to end the vaccination program and we are now with all the delays, mainly those of the booster vaccine", he highlighted.
According to the latest balance from the capital government, 78% of the population over 15 years of age is immunized against covid-19 with the booster dose, that is, more than five million people.
🟢 Green light at CDMX starting this Monday March 7th.
All activities open.
Thank you to all the people who participated in the vaccination against COVID-19.
– Claudia Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein) March 4, 2022
According to health indicators, the daily average of positives has been reduced by 96% compared to the maximum identified on January 17.
“We are approaching the historical lows of the pandemic”, assured the general director of Digital Government of the Digital Agency for Public Innovation, Eduardo Clark.
The official added that the positivity rate is currently at its lowest level of 10% and that hospitalizations continue to decrease in the Valley of Mexico, going from 3,500 to less than 100 in recent weeks.
In mid-January, the capital broke the record for coronavirus infections, with more than 60,000 in a single day.
Given this, the epidemiological traffic light was painted yellow again, after months of progress and setbacks.
The change, however, did not mean a greater trade restriction or greater confinement measures at the time.
The epidemiological traffic light has been criticized by several specialists, who have accused that the health authorities have not been clear and have even not reflected the real impact of the pandemic for political reasons.
"It's a simulation," said Arturo Erdely, actuary and doctor of Mathematical Sciences, in an interview with this newspaper last July.
"The population realized from the beginning that the traffic light was going to be the color that the government wanted," he added.
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